Matrix drying machine



July 5, 1938. F. G. LoueEL MATRIX DRYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1935 4Sheets-Sheet l mvEN'roRQ July 5, 1938. F. G. LOUGEE MATRIX DRYINGMACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

July 5, 1938. F. G. LOUGEE MATRIX DRYING MACHINE Filed Dec. 21, 1935 v 4Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Patented July 5, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MATRIX DRYING MACHINEFrederick Grafton Lougee, London, England, as-

signor to R. Hoe & (30., Inc., New York, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York ippiication December 21, 1935, Serial No.55,634 In Great Britain December 22, 193% 8 Claims. (Ci. 34-16) Thisinvention relates to a new or improved circular inner periphery of thepart i, the memmatrix drying machine, 1. e. a machine for use in ber 2having a base portion ii extending between drying matrices employed inthe production of its parallel portions or limbs t. The lengths ofprinting plates for printing machines. Matrices, the members i, 2 aresomewhat greater than the 5 for the above use, are first rendered softby m'oislength of the matrix to be dried,

ture to receive an impression of the matter to be The member I comprisesamain portion 1 which printed and are then dried and baked to remove isrecessed to receive electrical heating elements moisture as completelyas possible before the ii, a plate 9 which is formed with longitudinalmatrices are employed as moulds for casting the passages l0 and aperforated sheet or plate H exlil plates. tending over the passages,this plate it being that 10 One of the objects of this invention is toproagainst which the matrix to be dried is held. vide an improved matrixdrying machine; The portion l is also recessed on its outer periph-Another is to provide in a matrix drying maery to receive heatinsulating material [2 such as chine improved means for more thoroughlydryasbestos which is enclosed by an outer cover lfi'.

l5 ing matrices and in substantially obviating the The member 2comprises a main portion 2' which possibility of distorting theimpressions thereon; is recessed to receive electrical heating elementsStill another is to provide in a matrix drying l3 and a plate It whichis formed with longitudimachine, heated means to simultaneously engagenal passages I5 over which extends either a poleach side of a matrix andmeans simultaneously ished sheet of metal or as shown a sheet It of 2urge each side of the matrix into close engageasbestos cloth or the likeperforate material. The

ment with the heated means adjacent thereto, main portions 1, 2' of thetwo members are exwhile removing the moisture therefrom. tended at eachend somewhat beyond the associ- It is also an object of this inventionto provide ated parts so as to provide between the two mema matrixdrying machine of generally improved bers a clearance space l'l, intowhich open the construction, whereby the device will be simple, ends ofthe passages It and It. The stationary 25 durable and inexpensive inconstruction, as well member I is provided at one end with an end c0v-'as convenient, practical, serviceable and eflicient r plate [9 on whichslides one end face of the in its use. main portion 2' of the slidablemember 2. The

With the fore oing and other-Objects in ew, end plate I9 is shaped at 20to provide an enw ch will app ar as th d sc ipti n pr ds, th largementof the clearance l'l at one end. The 30 invention resides in thecombination and arrangeov bl member 2 1 provided at it end opment ofparts, and in the details of construction posite t the plate IS with aplate 2i having a hereinafter described and claimed. t ngue or bead 22upon its periphery, which e i v o s t a d in t accompany" (when themovable member 2 is moved as hereing'drawlngs as pp a machine for use inafter described into operative position) enters a 35 drying matricesfrom Which Semi-cylindrical recess in the edge of a U-shaped plate 23secured Printing Plates are to be In the drawings to the correspondingend of the stationary mem- Fi ur 1 is a end vat Figure 2 an end berI,the plate 2| in this manner, closing one end elevation partly insection, Figure 3 a side secf b th members i and 2 4o tional elevation,Figures 4 and 5 detail sections t l now b seen that th r is provided a,40 at right angles to One another and Figures 6 and 7 chamber whichincludes the clearance ii and is detail Sectional .eleva'fiionsboundedby the stationary parts 1, i9, 20, 23 and The e a e D fl tWO membersdenoted the movable parts 5, 2i, and that this chamber is erally by heref\ :e es l each being inverted sealed when the movable parts areraised into the U shape in cross section, and consisting ofasemiposition Shown in th drawings to cause the 45 c rcula Portion fromthe ends of Which extend tongue 22 to enter the recess in the stationaryshort parallel portions 3, t respectively, the parplate 23 h h b iplaced by a pipe 24 allel portions i being slidable between the parainto communication with a suction or evacuating portions 3 which aresecured to a stationary suppump 25 arranged to b driven by an electricporting frame 5. The curvature of the semimotor 26, 5o

circular inner (or concave) periphery of the mem- When the pump 25 is inoperation a c rt i be! 1 1S s y equal to that Of t e p t gree of vacuumwill be created in the chamber, plate to be produced from the matrix tobe dried and this is utilized not only to draw off vapour in the machineand the outer (or convex) peevaporated from the matrix by the heatingeleriphery of the member 2 conforms to the semiments 8, [3 but also tohold themovable parts 55 against their weight in the raised position, sothat when the pump is stopped, the degree of vacuum in the chamber willdiminish until it is insufficient to hold the member 2 which willthereupon fall to its inoperative or loading position. In the loadingposition the chamber is opened by the tongue 22 on the plate 2| leavingthe recess in the plate 23 and providing an opening through which amatrix to be dried can be introduced and placed on the sheet Hi. It willbe apparent that by reason of the vacuum effect transmitted through thepassages ID to the perforations in the plate I the matrix will be heldfirmly against this plate.

In order to enable the movable member to be raised from its loadingposition to the operating position shown, the base 6 of the movable parthas secured to it posts 21 carrying rollers 23 engaging earns 29 on ashaft 30 journalled in the frame and provided with a two armed operatinglever 3|. The cams 29 are shaped so that by turning the lever 3| in aclockwise direction the movable part 2 is raised against its weight. Ifnow the motor 26 be started,.the movable member 2 will be held,independently of the cams 29, by the aforementioned vacuum effect. Toenable the movable member to fall when the motor 26 is stopped, it isnecessary that the movable part 2 should not be held by the cams 29,-andto enable this to be effected, the cams 29 and the operating lever 3|could be biased so that,-when the lever is released by the operator theywill return to their inoperative position. It may be preferred howeverto arrange this mechanism so that it requires a definite manualoperation to return it to the inoperative position, and this may beeffected as shown herein, by providing the cams 29 with portions 29concentric with the axis of the shaft 30, these portions moving underthe rollers 28 when the movable member has been raised so that theweight of the movable member (and its associated parts) will hold thecams in position until the shaft 30 is rocked by the manual applicationof pressure to the operating lever 3|, this being effected as soon as itis judged that the vacuum effect has developed sufficiently in thechamber to hold the movable member against its own weight. The matrixwill thus be tightly held between the plate I and the sheet l6 and themoisture evaporated out of the matrix by the heat generated by theheating elements 8 and I3 will be drawn off through the perforations inthe plate through the sheet IE and through the passages ll), |5 into thespaces H and exhausted therefrom by the pump through the pipe 24. Toassist in the raising of the movable member the weight thereof may bepartially opposed by springs 23 contained in spring boxes 29 andinterposed between the base 6 and the stationary framework 5.

The motor 26 is arranged to be started by the operation of a switch 32which can as shown be arranged to be operated by one arm 3| of the lever3| when this reaches the position in which it has raised the movablemember 2 to its operative position, see Figure 1.

when the motor 26 is stopped, the degree of vacuum will, as previouslystated, become less and finally the movable member 2 will fall under itsown weight and thus permit the movement of the dried matrix away fromthe perforated plate.

The period of the drying operation may be under the control of a timingmechanism, shown more particularly in Figures 6 and 7, which mechanismis capable of being set to stop the motor 25 at the end of differenttime intervals. The mechanism comprises a switch 49 the operation ofwhich causes the circuit of the motor to be de-energized (and inconsequence permits the movable member 2 to fall to its inoperativeposition as already described). The switch 49 is arranged to be operatedby any one of a plurality of earns 33, 34, and 35 having differentnumbers of operating faces or teeth, and which are secured to a shaft 36slidably and rotatably supported near one end thereof in an end wall ofa casing 31 and which is slidable but not rotatable at its other end ina bore formed in a shaft 38 journalled in supporting members provided inthe casing. The shaft 38 is provided with two gear wheels 39, 40 ofdifferent diameters and these gear wheels are adapted to meshrespectively with gear wheels 4|, 42 on a shaft 43 which is rotatablyand slidably supported in the casing 31, the inner end of the shaft 43being slidable but non-rotatable in a bore in a shaft 44.

The two shafts 36, 43 extend beyond the casing 31 and are respectivelyprovided with three and two grooves 45, 46 into which spring loadedballs 41, 48 can snap. These balls and grooves are disposed so that,considering that the shaft 36 is located longitudinally in one of threepositions, one or other of the cams 33, 34,35 is in line with a plunger49 for operating the switch 49', and considering that the shaft 43 islocated longitudinally in one of two positions, one of the two gearwheels 4|, 42 is in mesh with one of the two gear wheels 39, 40, wherebyrotation of theshaft 43 at a certain speed will be transmitted at acertain ratio to the shaft 36 and the time intervals between which theteeth on the various earns 33, 34,

35 operate the plunger 49 will depend upon the particular cam in linewith the plunger. It will be apparent that with the arrangement shownany one of six different time intervals can be chosen, one group ofthree when the gear wheels 33, 4| are in mesh and a further set of threewhen the gear wheels 40, 42 are in mesh. To facilitate'the setting ofthe mechanism, the ends of the shafts 36, 43 are provided with operatingknobs 49, 50 which move against a plate.5| having calibrated marksthereon to indicate the time intervals corresponding to the variouspositions of the shafts 36, 43. The shaft 43 is arranged to be drivenfrom the'electric motor 26 through a reduction gearing comprising apinion 52 on the shaft 44 in mesh with a pinion 53 on a spindle 54having on it a second pinion 55 in mesh with a pinion 56 formed on asleeve51 in which the shaft 44 is rotatable and which is secured againstrotation by providing on the sleeve a flange 58 secured to the bearingfor the shaft 43. The two pinions 53, 55 have a slightly differentnumber of teeth (e. g. a diiference of one tooth) and the spindle 54 ismounted in a cage 59 having a shaft extension 60 which is journalled inthe end wall of the casing 31 and is bored to form a journal for theshaft 44. The extension 60 has secured to it a chain wheel Bl aroundwhich passes a chain 62 which is driven by a chain wheel 53 secured tothe spindle of the motor.

It will be apparent that when the motor 25 is started drive will betransmitted to the cage 59 the rotation of which will cause the pinion55 to roll on the stationary pinion 56 and by reason of the differencein the number of teeth on the two pinions 55, 53 rotation will betransmitted from the pinion 53 to the pinion 52 at a rate which isconsiderably less than that of the cage carries one part 64 of apneumatic ram and cylinfrom the ram and cylinder.

base .6 of the movable member 2.

is biased by a weight 69 to move in an antider dashpot, the other part55 of which is carried by the stationary framework 5. The rate ofdescent of the movable member 2 is regulated by the rate at which air isallowed to be displaced The air displaced from the ram and cylinder isutilized to partially eject the matrix from the machine and to effectthis there is provided a lever 66 which is pivotally carried at 61 on asupport 68 secured to the The lever 66 clockwise direction as viewed inFigure 3 and its lower end has pivotally mounted on it an arm 10 whichis provided with a slot It to receive a pin 12 on the lever 65, the armiii extending beyond the lower end of the lever 66 into the path of astriking member 13. The upper end of the lever 66 extends through slotsformed in the parts 2, It, IS, ll, 9 and I and is normally just beyondthe inner edge of the matrix adjacent the wall iii. The member I3 isslidable in guides 14 and is connected through a rod 15 to the ram I6 ofa second pneumatic ram and cylinder arrangement, the cylinder 11 ofwhich is secured to the base 6 and is fed through a pipe 18 with the airunder pressure discharged from the first ram and cylinder 64, 65. Thepin and slot 712, H are so disposed that as the movable member 2descends, the air discharged from the dashpot and taken 40 to the secondram and cylinder causes striking member 13 to move from right to leftand in so doing to engage the arm iii and rock the lever 68 in aclockwise direction until when the striker clears the arm 10 the lever66 is freed and allowed 45 to be returned by the weight 69 to itsoriginal position. The clockwise movement of the lever results in itsupper end being moved'into engagement with the edge of the matrix andthen partially ejecting the matrix through the gap which 50 is formed,by the descent of the movable member 2, between the plate 2| and theplate 23 secured to the stationary member. When the movable member 2 isnext raised into its operative position, air will be transferred fromthe cylinder 1! 55 to the cylinder 65 of the ram and cylinder dashpotand the striking member 13 will therefore move from left to right. Whennear the end of this retracting movement the striking member 13 engagesthe arm 10 which has as described been 00 returned with the lever 66 toits original position and will rock the arm 10 on the lever 65 in ananti-clockwise direction, whereby the slot II will leave the pin 12until the member 13 clears the arm 10 whereupon the arm will drop backinto 65 position to be actuated by the striking member 70 heatresponsive device I9 is located and which is arranged to operate anindicating instrument 80.

I The pressure condition within the chamber may also be indicated by apressure gauge 8i. It will be understood that the invention may 75 beembodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit oressential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that thepresent embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and notrestrictive, and it will be further understood that each and every novelfeature and combination present in or possessed by the mechanism hereindisclosed forms a part of -the invention included in this application.

What I claim is: 1. A matrix drying machine comprising two members,means supporting one member against movement, means supporting the othermember for movement into and out of position to hold a matrix betweenitself and the other member, means biasing the movable member to move toits inoperative position, means creating a vacuum between the twomembers and holding the movable member against its bias in operativeposition, means whereby the vacuum effect can be discontinued to permitthe movable member to be returned by its biasing means to itsinoperative position, a member to partially eject a matrix,

-a fluid dashpot device, connections between the device and the movablemember, a fluid operated device, means transferring fluid displaced fromthe dashpot device to the fluid operated device, and connections betweenthe fluid operated device and the matrix ejecting member.

2. In combination, two members disposed to receive between them a matrixto be dried means supporting one member against movement, meanssupporting the other member for movement into and out of co-operativeposition with respect to the stationary member, means biasing themovable member into its inoperative position, means applying vacuumbetween the two members, and holding the movable member against its biasin the operative position, a timing mechanism controlling the vacuumapplying means and rendering the said means ineffective after apredetermined time interval, a member to partialy eject a matrix, adisplaceable device movable by the movable member during its movement toits inoperative position, and con-' the recesses to form a commonchamber at the end thereof, the face of each plate adjacent the face ofthe matrix having grooves to permit vapor to pass lengthwisetherethrough, the grooves of both plates being in connection with thecommon chamber, means to heat each plate, and means in connection withthe grooves of each plate to draw vapor from both sides of the matrixinto and through the common chamber.

4. In a matrix drying machine, a pair of members having opposed recessesand being adapted to be' closed together, said members havingcooperating guiding surfaces therebetween, each member having a platethereon, a perforate sheet on each plate to engage a face of a matrixdisposed therebetween, said plates having lengthwise grooves therein,said members being adapted to join the recesses to form a chamber whenin closed position and which is in connection with the grooves in eachplate, and means to exhaust the vapors from the chamber to create avacuum therein and at the face of each plate to remove vapor from eachrace of the matrix substantially simultaneously. and to maintain theadjacent faces of the matrix and the perforate sheet on the respectiveplate in close contact with each other.

5. In a matrix drying machine, a pairof telescoping U shaped membershaving the faces of their closed tops curved and their sides in slidingcontact, a recess formed in the opposing curved faces of said members, aplate having longitudinal grooves in its face disposed in the recess ineach member and being spaced from each end of said member, means toslide one member relatively to the other to engage a matrix between saidplates and to engage one member with the other at their ends to registerthe recesses and form a closed chamber, the 'grooves in said plate beingin connection with said chamber, and means to exhaust the chamber todraw vapor from the matrix through the grooves in said plates.

6. In a matrix drying machine, a pair of members having recesses intheir opposed surfaces, a plate in the recess in each member, saidplates having grooves formed in their opposing surfaces, means to moveone member toward the other to clamp a matrix between said plates and toform a closed chamber at one end of said members by the registering ofthe recesses in the opposed surfaces thereof, the grooves in'said platesbeing in connection with said chamber, and means to exa,1sa,soo

haust the chamber to draw vapor from each side of the matrix into thegrooves of the plate ad- Jacent thereto.

7. In a matrix drying machine, members movable into closed position toform a common chamber therebetween, a plate on each member having vaporreceiving grooves in their opposed surfaces which are directly inconnection with the common chamber formed by said members when they aremoved into closed position to clamp a matrix between the opposed groovedsurfaces of the plates, and means to exhaust the chamber to equally drawvapor from the matrix from both sides thereof through the grooves in theopposed surfaces of said plates.

8. In a matrix drying machine, a pair of closable telescoping membersadapted at one end to form a common closed chamber therebetween whenthey are in closed position, a plate carried by each member, each platehaving a perforate sheet on one of its surfaces to engage a matrixbetween their opposed sheet covered surfaces, each plate having openingsin its surface ad- Jacent the matrix, which openings are in connectionwith the closed chamber so formed, and means to exhaust the chamber todraw vapor from each side of the matrix through the openings, theopenings in each plate being arranged whereby a substantially equal pullis imposed upon each side of the matrix when the exhausting means is inoperation.

FREDERICK GRAFTON LOUGEE.

